Craft for swimmers



Oct. 31, 1967 A. S YDOR IAK CRAFT FOR SWIMMERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, I965 F/gJI INVENTOR. SY D 0 R I] A K VH flat j ALEXANDER ATTORNEY J Oct. 31, 1967 A. SYDORIAK 3,349,746

CRAFT FOR SWIMMERS Filed Oct. 22. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALEXANDER 5 Y 0 o R IA K ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,349,746 CRAFT FOR SWIMMERS Alexander Sydoriak, 113 Fair St., Kingston, NY. 12402 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 502,172 Claims. (Cl. 115-223) This disclosure relates to a craft for use by a swimmer to increase his range and mobility in water. The invention resides in an apparatus to adapt a natural stepping action of the swimmers legs for continuously turning a propeller to move the craft.

Basically this teaching achieves more efficient propulsion than is available from ordinary swimming strokes. The craft also serves to buoy the swimmer. Accordingly the swimmer is enabled to cover longer distances with safety.

Many craft for swimmers are driven by engines or batteries. With such craft the swimmer rides-he does not swim, so there is a sacrifice of exercise. In this regard an important aspect of the present invention is that the swimmer participates physically in the crafts movement. Speed and maneuverability depend upon the swimmers strength and coordination so this craft lends itself to athletic competition. It will also be readily seen that this craft adds scope to water polo and other team sports since courts can be enlarged. The craft can be driven either on or below the surface so Water games can be developed to also include underwater breathing devices.

While the advantages of this craft in sports are cardinal, its adaptability to military purposes is not overlooked. With no engine exhaust gases or engine noises this craft could serve frog men well.

A further objective is to present a simple inexpensive craft which needs neither fuel nor batteries, needs practically no maintenance and is otherwise Well suited to its task.

These and other features will appear more fully from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE I illustrates a man operating a craft according to this invention.

FIGURE II depicts the man in a harness arrangement suitable for use with the craft.

FIGURES III, IV and V show details of the harness elements.

FIGURE VI is a sectional view which illustrates a keyway suitable for journalling a socket to receive a ball formed on a rod connected to the craft.

FIGURE VII is a sectional view through a ball and socket joint provided to allow articulation of the rod relative the swimmers torso. I

FIGURE VIII is a broken top view in section of the craft and taken along line 88 of FIGURE IX FIGURE IX is a broken view in section and taken along line 9--9 of FIGURE VIII.

FIGURE X is a broken view in section and taken along line 1010 of FIGURE VIII.

FIGURE XI is a side view of an alternate embodiment of this craft wherein a positively sealed air space is provided to assure buoyancy.

As best seen in FIGURES I and XI the craft comprises hull 21 which is mounted by the swimmer while he is immersed prone in water. To orient the swimmer relative the craft, rod 22 is fixed to hull 21 and is connected by means of ball and socket joint 23 (shown in FIGURE VII) to the swimmers harness 24 which is shown assembled in FIGURE II and has familiar components detailed in FIG- URES III through VI. Keyway 26 (see in FIGURE IV) is adapted to accept key 27 shown in FIGURE VII for engagement of the swimmer to the craft. By sliding key 27 out of keyway 26 the swimmer disengages from the craft. The operation of.resilient member 28 (shown in FIGURE VII) Will be more fully discussed below. As

3,349,746 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 indicated in FIGURE III, inflatable air pockets 29 may be provided in some or all of the harness elements to allow added safety for the swimmer.

An important object of this invention is to adapt a natural stepping action of the swimmers feet to turn propeller 31 for moving the craft. As best seen in FIGURE I, elements 32 and 33 are connected by means of stirrups 34 and 36 to the left and right feet of the swimmer respectively. By means of the alternating reciprocal movement of the swimmers feet (indicated in FIGURE I) elements 32 and 33 are pulled and relaxed in turn.

FIGURE VIII is symmetrical about its center line, so taking FIGURES I and VIII in conjunction it should be understood that both the left and right feet of the swimmer are attached to mirror-image drive assemblies generally designated 37 and 38 respectively. As seen in FIGURE IX, a pull on element 33 rotates spool 39 in opposition to a resilient recoil means shown as elastic band 41 arranged over rollers 42 for attachment to hull 21. When element 33 is relaxed, elastic band 41 comes into play to rewind element 33 on spool 39. An analogous relationship holds true for the mirror image left leg assembly which is not fully shown.

To move the craft propeller 31 is immersed in water at the fore end. A pull of either leg is organized to drive propeller 31 and intermediate rotary members in positive drive senses. To permit reasonably high, speeds for propeller operation large driving wheel 43 is connected to move in response to a turning of spool 39 in the positive sense. Driving wheel 43 is connected by means of chain 44 to small driven wheel 46 so that the linear speed of driven wheel 46 is greater than that of driving wheel 43. Where noise is a factor this transmission would probably give way to a belt and pulley assembly. Driven axle 47 is connected to rotate gear 48 which in turn rotates bevel 49 connected to propeller shaft 51.

With the alternating step action here contemplated only one drive assembly 37 or 38 is in operation at any one time. It is desired to lessen friction in the non-operational drive assembly. For this reason gear 48 is coupled to drive axle 47 and spool 39 is coupled to driving wheel 43 by means of one-directional slip clutches all organized to engage for rotation in the drive sense only. One of these slip clutches 52, the one coupling drive axle 47 to gear 48, will be fully described below. It will be understood that the other slip clutches are similarly constructed. Drive axle 47 has hub 54 formed thereon. Gear 48 is journalled at 56, is arranged about hub 54 and is spaced from hub 54 to define annulus 57 to press outward engaging gear 48 when drive axle 47 is turned in the positive sense here shown. When right assembly 38 is not in play the pro-peller is being driven by means of mirror-imaged left assembly 37, then gear 48 idly turns with bevel 49 continuously in the same direction as before being disengaged from hub 54 which merely slows down rotating in the same direction slipping off gear 48. Under this condition gear 48 merely slides past leaf 58 with no appreciable turning influence on hub 54. By this expedient the gears alternate in turning propeller 31 with the gear which is not in play idling meaninglessly in response to bevel 49. In like manner the installation of a one-sense slip clutch between spool 39 and driving wheel 43 allows spool 39 to recoil without turning the driving 43 and driven 46 wheels. This craft would perform with only one slip clutch in each assembly, but operational friction and noise levels would be somewhat higher.

For buoying the craft in water hull 21 defines air space 61. The embodiment shown in FIGURE I has drive assemblies 37 and 38 housed within hull 21. In the embodiment of FIGURE XI air space 61 is defined by a partition and is sealed. In the embodiment of FIGURE XI a gas which is lighter than air could also be employed in space 61.

Sealing of air space 61 in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 is complicated by shaft port 62 and after ports 63 through which propeller shaft 51 and elements 33 and 34 penetrate respectively. O-ring 64 is provided to seal shaft port 62. Flexible waterproof tubes 66 enclose elements 32 and 33 and are connected in sealing engagement between hull 21 and either element so that each of these elements can recoil into and be pulled out of the hull without water leaking into air space 61. One-way valve 67 and blow-out tube 68 (provided with a suitable one-way flow device not shown) are furnished to force water out of air space 61 for regulation of the crafts buoyancy.

As outlined above engagement of the swimmers harness 24 to rod 22 is effected by means of sliding key 27 in keyway 26. Resilient member 28 normally urges pin 16 to engage in hole 12 so that key 27 is secured. For disengagement of rod 22 slide housing 17 is integrally connected to pin 16 and telescopically organized about socket piece 18 is moved away from key 27 overcoming the urging of resilient member 28 to disengage pin 16.

It will be apparent that wide deviations may be made in the details of the shown embodiments without departing from the main theme of invention set forth in the claims. It should also be clear that while an alternating stepping action is contemplated, the present teaching is not necessarily limited to such an alternating action.

What is claimed is:

-1. A craft for a swimmer and comprising an element connected to at least one member of the swimmer so that by moving that member he can exert a force on the element,

drive means connected to the element for adapting the force into rotational motion,

a propeller operatively associated with the hull and immersed in the water for moving the craft,

transmission means connecting the drive means to the propeller whereby the porpeller is turned,

a band arrangeable to encircle the torso of the swimmer,

a rod connectable between the band and the drive means for positioning the drive means fixed in spaced relationship from the swimmers breast.

2. A craft for a swimmer and comprising a frame,

a frame, a band arrangeable to encircle the torso of the swimmer, a rod connectable between the band and the frame for positioning the frame fixed in spaced relationship from the swimmers breast,

a flexible element connected to at least one member of the swimmer so that by moving that member he can exert a pull on the element,

spool means mounted on the frame and connected to the element and adapted for rotation,

the flexible element Windable on the spool means so that when the element is pulled a rotational motion is imparted to the spool,

a propeller operatively associated with the frame and immersed in the water for moving the craft,

transmission means connecting the spool means to the propeller whereby the propeller is turned,

an elastic recoil cord connected between the frame and the spool and arranged for rewinding the element onto the spool means on relaxation of the swimmers member.

3. The craft of claim 2 with float means operatively associated with the frame and comprising means for confining a gas,

means operable by the swimmer for regulating the amount of gas confined so that the buoyancy of the craft can be controlled.

4. A craft for a swimmer and comprising a hull suitable for the swimmer to ride on while he is immersed in water,

a flexible element connected to at least one foot of the swimmer so that by extending the foot in a natural reciprocating motion he can exert a pull on the element,

spool means connected to the element and adapted for rotation,

the flexible element Windable on the spool means so that when the element is pulled a rotational motion is impartd to the spooll,

a propeller operatively associated with the hull and immersed in the water for moving the craft,

transmission means connecting the spool means to the propeller whereby the propeller is turned,

recoil means for rewinding the element onto the spool means on relaxation of the swimmers leg,

the transmission means including slip means arranged so that when the recoil means is rewinding the element onto the spool means the propeller is not turned by the transmission means,

the hull having a fore and an aft,

the transmission means including a propeller shaft to which the propeller is attached,

the hull including a shaft port in its fore through which the propeller shaft penetrates,

means disposed about the shaft for sealing the shaft port,

the hull including an after port in its aft,

the element penetrating the hull via the after port,

a flexible waterproof tube enclosing the element and connected in sealing engagement between the hull and the element so that the element can recoil into and be pulled out of the hull without water leaking through the after port.

5. The craft of claim 4 with float means for ejecting water from the hull so that the buoyancy of the craft can be controlled by the swimmer.

6. A craft for a swimmer and comprising a hull suitable for a swimmer to ride on while he is immersed in water,

a pair of flexible elements one connected to each of the feet of the swimmer and arranged so that by extending his feet alternately in a natural stepping motion the swimmer exerts pulls in turn on first one of the elements and then on the other,

a pair of tools each adapted for rotation with one connected to each of the elements,

each of the flexible elements Windable on its associated spool whereby when either element is pulled a rotational motion is imparted to that spool,

a propeller operatively associated with the hull and immersed in the water for moving the craft,

each of the spools having a transmission means connected thereto and connected to the propeller for turning the propeller on the rotation of either spool in response to a pull on the element associated therewith,

each of the spools having an elastic recoil cord for re winding its associated element onto that spool in relaxation of the associated leg of the swimmer,

each of the transmission means including slip means arranged so that when the element is rewinding on the associated spool the propeller is not turned by that transmission means whereby both transmission means alternate in turning the propeller in a common rotational sense,

a band arrangeable to encircle the torso of the swimmer,

a rod connectable between the band and the hull for positioning the hull fixed in spaced relationship from the swimmers breast.

7. A craft for a swimmer and comprising a hull suitable for a swimmer to ride on while he is immersed in water,

a pair of flexible elements one connected to each of the feet of the swimmer and arranged so that by extending his feet alternately in a natural stepping motion the swimmer exerts pulls in turn on first one of the elements and then on the other,

a pair of spools each adapted for rotation with one connected to each of the elements,

each of the flexible elements windable on its associated spool whereby when either element is pulled a rotational motion is imparted to that spool,

a propeller operatively associated with the hull and immersed in the water for moving the craft,

each of the spools having a transmission means connected thereto and connected to the propeller for turning the propeller on the rotation of either spool in response to a pull on the element associated therewith,

each of the spools having an elastic recoil member for rewinding its associated element onto that spool on relaxation of the associated element onto that spool on relaxation of the associated leg of the swimmer,

each of the transmission means including slip means arranged so that when the element is rewinding on the associated spool the propeller is not turned by that transmission means whereby both transmission means alternate in turning the propeller in a common rotational sense,

each of the transmission means including a relatively large driving wheel connected to turn with the associated spool,

a relatively small driven wheel fixedly mounted on a drive axle,

a band connected about the outside of the driving and driven wheels whereby the angular speed of the driven wheel is magnified over that of the driven wheel,

each of the slip means including an inner hub mounted on the drive axle,

a gear arranged about the inner hub and spaced therefrom to define an annulus,

a leaf connected to turn with the inner hub and arranged to lean forwardly outward into the annulus to press outward engaging the gear when the drive axle is turned in the opposite sense, a propeller shaft connected to each of the gears, the propeller mounted on the propeller shaft. 5 8. The combination of claim 7 with float means for buoying the craft in the water.

9. The craft of claim 8 with the hull enveloping the spools the transmission means and the recoil means,

the hull including a shaft peller shaft penetrates,

an O-ring disposed in sealing engagement between the propeller shaft and the fore,

the hull including a pair of after ports,

each of the elements penetrating the hull via one of the after ports,

a pair of flexible waterproof tubes, each enclosing one of the elements and connected in sealing engagement between the hull and its associated element so that each element can recoil into and be pulled out of the hull without water leaking through either of the after ports.

10. The craft of claim 9 with float means for ejecting water from the hull so that the buoyancy of the craft may 25 be controlled by the swimmer.

10 port through which the pro- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,013 8/1907 Baum -26.l 1,307,752 6/1919 Primm 115-263 FOREIGN PATENTS 648,794 l/l Great Britain. 35 899,168 12/ 1953 Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primiary Examiner. ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,3491'746 October 31, 1967 Alexander Sydoriak It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 47, strike out "a frame", first occurrence;

column 4, line 9, for "impartd to the spooll" read imparted to the spool line 45, for tools" read spools line 58, for "in" read on column 5, line 34, for "driven" read driving Signed and sealed this 22nd day of July 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, IR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A CRAFT FOR A SWIMMER AND COMPRISING AN ELEMENT CONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE SWIMMER SO THAT BY MOVING THAT MEMBER HE CAN EXERT A FORCE ON THE ELEMENT, DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE ELEMENT FOR ADAPTING THE FORCE INTO ROTATIONAL MOTION, A PROPELLER OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HULL AND IMMERSED IN THE WATER FOR MOVING THE CRAFT, TRANSMISSION MEANS CONNECTING THE DRIVE MEANS TO THE PROPELLER WHEREBY THE PROPELLER IS TURNED, A BAND ARRANGEABLE TO ENCIRCLE THE TORSO OF THE SWIMMER, A ROD CONNECTABLE BETWEEN THE BAND AND THE DRIVE MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE DRIVE MEANS FIXED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP FROM THE SWIMMER''S BREAST. 